Traveling and Vacations Tips

Posts Tagged ‘cruises’

Cruises are the most versatile of vacations no matter what your age. Not only that, it’s a great way to bring the whole family but still have time alone with your spouse while the kids-only activity coordinators take charge of your children’s fun.

The first step to putting together a great cruise vacation is to find yourself a travel agency that specializes in cruises, or to book directly through a cruise vacation Internet site.

Before you contact the travel agent though you need to determine when you’re going, where you’re going and from which port you’ll depart and to which you’ll return.

There are some seasonal rules of thumb about your destination. If you’re limited in the time of year you can get away then you’re also somewhat limited in your destination. You can’t, for instance, cruise the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska any time during the summer. Europe has about the same seasonal restriction as well. If you’re planning on heading out in the spring or fall you might want to consider an excursion up and down the Panama Canal. Just about any time of year, including the winter, you can cruise to Asia or the Caribbean.

Determine who is going to go with you. Knowing if children or seniors will be a part of your vacation group will effect which trip offers the best choices of entertainment for your party. In fact, it’s best to gather everyone together, or conduct a phone or e-mail discussion of what everyone wants to do. You need to know if crafts are important; how many are going to lounge by the pool; who wants to get off and explore at the first land stop; who prefers exotic locations and who’d rather just play shuffleboard.

The size of the ship can be important as well. Larger ships have a vast variety of entertainment options, such as dancing and stage shows, although smaller ships may provide a lower guest to staff ratio, and thus more personal attention to your needs.

Know how much you and the others can spend. If money is a critical factor look for discounts for booking early, or starting out on a different day or different week from your original request. Staying flexible can save you considerable money. Ask about port fees as well. These are not usually included in the quoted cruise cost and may cost you dearly. You’ll also be expected to tip room stewards and wait staff.

If you’re not going as a large group and you might be interested in getting to know your fellow passengers then be sure and inquire about the usual demographics of these travelers. If you’re 20 something and it’s a baby boomer cruise you’re apt to be bored. If you bring your grade schoolers and most of the other kids are in their teens they won’t have enough playmates and you’ll be their entertainment for the extent of the cruise.

One very important inquiry to make of your travel agent as well is the formality of the cruise that you’re considering. If you show up with a suitcase full of swimsuits, shorts and sunscreen only to find out formal dress is required at dinner you’re going to be embarrassed or hungry the entire excursion.

If you are planning a cruise to Bermuda, there are certain important things which you must keep in mind. If you have not been to Bermuda before, bear in mind that it is not a big island. In fact, it doesn’t take more than 24 hours to walk across the whole island.

Bermuda is around 120 miles north of the Caribbean Sea. It has a mild climate even during the winter months. Cruises to Bermuda are generally available between April and late October. There are certain cruises which keep on making trips until the end of December. However, they are relatively rare.

Your cruise ship could land in any one of the three ports at Bermuda, though it is most likely that you would stop in the port of Hamilton, as it has two shipping berths. It may happen that you visit more than one port on your Bermuda cruise trip.

The other port is known as St. George port. It is a historical port and attracts large numbers of tourists. Then there is the third port, at King’s Wharf. This port has museums, galleries and popular restaurants, which makes it a famous cultural hub. Bermuda cruises often have a large number of tourists who often make return visits to Bermuda. This indicates the island’s popularity.

However, as it is a small island, restrictions are in place concerning the maximum number of cruise liners that can land here. Check out the limit before you book a Bermuda cruise. The bookings can be done online or over the telephone. There are many cruise liners to choose from. Your choice of a cruise liner depends on your budget and the kind of vacation you are looking to take. There are luxury liners for those who want to splurge, and cheaper liners for those on a tighter budget.

Going on vacation with your loved ones can be an exciting and a fun experience for everyone. There are many possibilities when it comes to spending your vacation at sea. There is a cruise holiday that will suit everyone.You might ask yourself, “Where do I start?”  Well, the first step is to figure out where you want to go.  This might be the hardest step in planning your vacation but once you get past it, everything is a breeze.

There are cruises that go all over the world. Your choices could take you to Alaska or Venice and everywhere in between. Some factors that might help you in your decision-making are the possible ports you may want to visit, or cities of departure you prefer. You may want to depart from a city close to your home or a city you have always wanted to visit. This will limit your choices of ships embarking from those homeports.

Once you have figured out where you want to go, your next step is to decide what cruise company and ship you prefer. Today’s cruise ships are some of the most innovative and advanced ships ever built. They offer many features that fit everyone’s tastes. Some of the features include rock-climbing walls, self-leveling pool tables, ice-skating rinks and many shops and restaurants. These are just some of the many examples of what to expect from a cruise ship.  There are many more amenities, as well as exciting activities that will make you forget to leave the ship even when you are at a port.

When choosing a cruise company, there are certain factors you will need to deal with before booking a reservation. First, read consumer reports regarding a ship’s services. Then you confirm that they will actually stop at places they say they will.  Remember that a happy occasion can easily become a very frustrating one quickly. The only way to prevent this is to be prepared and to do your research.

If you are looking to take a relaxing vacation with your family, loved one or simply by yourself for some peace and quiet, a cruise is definitely one of your top options. If this is going to be your first cruise, there are a number of issues that you need to define to help you with your planning.

If you are looking to take a relaxing vacation with your family, loved one or simply by yourself for some peace and quiet, a cruise is definitely one of your top options. If this is going to be your first cruise, there are a number of issues that you need to define to help you with your planning.

Firstly, who is it that is going on this cruise with you? Whether it is your husband, your kids, or you are planning on spending some quality “you” time, everyone is welcome on most cruises. However it is easy to find a cruise that is mainly adult, or some that are more focused on providing entertainment for kids, from toddlers to teenagers.

Financially, you need to decide how much money you want to spend, and figure out a realistic budget for yourself.  Usually, approximately 100 US dollars a day is sufficient, not including the cost of getting to the cruise ship itself. Make sure you find out exactly what is included in your fare; some extras that used to be thrown in are now an additional charge. There are a couple different ways to save, like taking advantage of the early bird fares and booking in advance. Also, while it’s risky, for those of you with flexible schedules, booking last minute can save you a bunch as well.

So, what’s the most affordable way to get to your cruise ship? The most likely, and popular, ways are driving or flying. A cruise can be a great finish to a road trip, where you can stop off whenever you please and explore several destinations on the way to your fabulous vacation to be.

Some cruise lines can give you a flight and cruise package, which is easier, and less stressful way to plan your trip, plus it usually includes the pricey transfers from the airport to your cruise ship. In addition, most cruise lines usually take care of your luggage, which means they can transfer it directly to your cabin—a huge bonus for people that hate lugging around heavy bags—which, let’s face it, is the vast majority of us.

The next big decision for you is to decide when it is that you want to travel. Obviously you will want to go somewhere where the chance of hurricanes is limited in the fall; however, keep in mind cruise ships will alter their destinations accordingly.  Timing wise, if you are planning on only spending a week on vacation, you are limited to the sunny areas, such as Mexico, most of the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. Other possibilities, depending on your starting destination, are Hawaii, Alaska or even Europe.

If you are travelling without family and have a flexible schedule, the fall and spring and usually the cheapest times, because kids are away in school, and the weather is generally a bit chancier.  In the more tropical areas, the temperature does not change too much, but what does change is the amount of precipitation. A bit of warm rain won’t hurt you, but it can be a bit of a pain. Keep in mind that most places have their rainy season in the winter, and the dry season is the summer.

When choosing where to cruise to, a good starting point is figuring out what sort of activities you want to do, because each destination comes with a distinct ambience. There are always many water sports available on the ships, such as snorkelling and pool activities and more energetic things such as scuba diving.  Port calls often take you to the “tourist” sites, such as museums and ruins. If you decide to venture off on your own, be careful of ‘friends’ that will willingly show you the so called good stores to shop in, because they are working off of commission with those stores. Usually a polite no thank you is good enough.  The cruise line will give you a list of activities for the port stops that are offered. Keep in mind that there are limited availability of some of the tours, so book in advance if it’s something you really want to do.

If you are nervous about your first cruise vacation, an excellent thing to is make sure you get a cabin you are going to be comfortable in for your cruise, because it is going to be your ‘home’ for the duration of your vacation. Keeping in mind that they do vary in prices, most people select the cheapest room available so they have more spending money. Sometimes there are deals for upgrading to a better cabin if you book early enough.

Make sure you know the ship’s plans because sometimes if you are only doing a one-way trip, the sightseeing may only be on one side of the ship, so you will see nothing from your room.  If small spaces bother you, a cabin with a balcony may be good for you—although it’s pricier, you get the luxury of stepping outside and enjoying the view.

The last question most people have is food related. The apprehension some people feel about cruising with set dinner times is quite often unnecessary.  You get to pick your dinnertime yourself, either an early seating, which is usually around 6, the late seating, around 8pm, and an open option, where you are given a timeframe of a few hours.  There are benefits to all of them. If you choose the late seating, there is always the possibility of missing certain shows or entertainment. The early seating means that any excursions you do need to be planned to allow you enough time to get back and ready for dinner.  The open seating may be the best option for families—we all know how unpredictable life can be with kids!